PERFORMANCE & MAGIC

Drew Hagen- Art 402

MAGIC AND

PERFORMANCE IN

POPULAR CULTURE

VENTRILIQUISM

Definition of VENTRILOQUISM (Webster’s Dictionary)

1: the production of the voice in such a way that the sound seems to come from

a source other than the vocal organs of the speaker

2: the expression of one's views and attitudes through another; especially :

such expression by a writer through a fictional character or literary persona

Or in other words…Performance

HISTORY

Ventriloquism first noted in a historical context in ancient Greece, and

thought to be a religious, mystical practice (they thought it was the voice

of the undead speaking through the mystic)

Seen as a kind of witchcraft during the middle ages

Now seen as a kind of comedy or vaudeville act with creepy

undertones…

CEL EBRITIES,VENTRIL OQU ISM &

THE ART OF THE P U P P ET

Charlie

Chaplin

With

puppet

In the early 20th century, ventriloquism and magicians became

quite fashionable, especially with the Hollywood crowd

Interestingly about the same time that American and European

interest in mysticism and séances also became very trendy.

Edgar Bergan and Charlie McCarthy Paul Winchell and …??

CINEMA & THE CREEPY

FACTOR

With Movies, the ventriloquist theme was always used to play on

audience fears (and still is a reoccurring theme)

TV shows like the Twilight Zone, and films like the British horror

film Dead of Night and many more kept this performance art in the

public consciousness through fear.

Images from the Twilight Zone TV series

Dead of Night (1945)

Magic (1978)

CHANGING FACE OF THE

ART??

Thanks to more kid friendly entertainers like Jim Henson, the

Muppets, and many other children’s shows, the art of ventriloquism

and puppetry have at times combined and flourished under this

relationship.

Jeff Dunham is considered by most to be the most commercially

accepted and financially successful ventriloquist artist of all time.

Jim

Henson

Jeff

Dunham

Fin